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September 27, 2009
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Num 11:25-29; James 5: 1-6; Mk 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48
Dc. Larry Brockman
Sin is real! Alive and well in our world. Personal sin. It is a central topic in today’s readings.Â
First, James paints a picture that makes it sound like the rich are truly doomed, about to be damned for their sins against everybody else. But, it would be a mistake to think that this reading applies just to the rich, and not to us. Because James central point is that people hoard out of selfishness, and all of us are guilty of that sin to some extent. We all have a tendency to jealously guard what we perceive as our own. Not only that, other sin often accompanies our attempts to guard what is ours. For example, which of us doesn’t bend the rules in our favor every chance we get, without concern for what it does to others.  Â
And then Jesus gives advice like this: “It is better for you to enter life crippled, than with two feet to be thrown into Hell!” Wow, such strong words. We are being chastised to be careful of anything that may lead us to sin, our feet, our eyes, and our hands included. Jesus tells us we would be better off without hands, feet and eyes if they lead us to sin, because, the day of judgment is coming when we will be held accountable for all that we have done.Â
In fact, we are at that time in the Church year when we are reminded of judgment because we are getting close to Advent, and the coming of Christ. And Advent heralds the coming of both the Christ Child, and Christ’s Second Coming at the Last Judgment. And so, we would do well to reflect on our sins, whatever they are.
 We may think we can hide them from our fellow man, like the hoarding of wealth. It’s as if we safely tuck away some of our sins in the back of our minds, sins like jealousy, gluttony, lust, and even anger, Resolving not to express what we think and do in private.   We think we can hide these from almost everyone else. But, we cannot hide them from God. And on judgment day, they will be laid out in the brightness of God’s light.Â
Now there are a couple of things that are worth mentioning about this type of personal sin. First, it affects others in ways that we probably cannot see. We may think that it is personal and internal, but it isn’t. That’s because things like jealousy, envy, and lust are reflected to others by our personalities. They may not appear as clearly and directly, but they are reflected by the whole person we are Much like our images are reflected in a mirror. Other people can see us the way we really are, even when we think we are hiding from them. They see it in an edge in our attitude, a sarcastic word, or an unkind remark, and even by silence when we should speak up. So, this type of personal sin does contribute to the culture of the world, and we are responsible for it. Jesus comments on that in the Gospel when he says that “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin” would be better with a milestone tied around them.Â
That’s why it is so important to reflect deep down within ourselves, and identify this type of personal sin.   We don’t take the time to do that in our society very often, and so, we can make today an opportunity to do that.  Â
Secondly, this type of sin can be forgiven. We need to confess it to Our Lord, and make a real act of contrition. For us who are Catholic, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. That makes it straightforward for us to get the burden off of ourselves and feel God’s grace in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Now these kinds of sins, especially when not confessed, make us feel guilty deep down. But once forgiven, we need not feel guilt any more. We are freed from guilt by the mercy that God shows us. We just need to resolve to avoid that sin in the future and then, we need not fear that coming judgment.  Â
Buried in today’s scripture is a really hopeful lesson about the Last Judgment because Jesus also says that “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, will surely not lose his reward”. And so, as somber as the Last Judgment may seem, because we fear the wrath of God regarding our sin, the fact is that Judgment can, and will be a time of great rejoicing for those who believe.Â
For those who have demonstrated their Faith with works, works as simple as offering a cup of water to a brother in Christ, the last Judgment will be a time of great joy!